"The Truth About Teeth Whitening"

The Secrets To Teeth Whitening And What You Don't Know Can Cost You MONEY !

2010-11-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

The concept of "teeth whitening" has certainly come along way since I began my career. I'm not sure why but suddenly, practically every dental office has some sort of program to deliver a brighter smile to their patients. Over the years I've seen a trend in the industry. It used to be quite costly to have your teeth whitened by your dentist. With that said, most people started looking outside the dental office for a "quick" or "cheaper" alternative.

Outside companies were only to happy to supply a wide variety of products such as whitening toothpastes, mouth rinses, mouth strips that you apply directly to your teeth (crest white strips) and eventually at home bleach kits complete with mouth trays! Even now you may find "tooth whitening" booths or stores at the mall offering immediate results in just one hour or less.

Amazing- low cost, convenient , no prescription needed. However, even the most widely advertised brands fall short of delivering the best results. Yes, these products can and will remove some of the extrinsic staining making your teeth appear brighter, but the reality is they can only deliver a certain degree of whitening. For most people, just the removal of some staining is enough to make them happy, for others they seek a deeper stain removal of teeth from the inside out. That is the only way to remove years of stains that have developed from age, foods and drinks or trauma of the teeth.

I intend my review to be a reference page for you to gain knowledge, find some answers to your questions and make an informed decision on which products or processes of whitening your teeth would be most beneficial and long lasting. Nothing looks better or makes a person appear more youthful that a great set of white teeth! No they do not have to be perfectly straight of look like a celebrity - not true. I have seen people as old as their seventies whiten their teeth and the results are just as stunning as if someone in their thirties did it. It is a marvelous make-over of your mouth- still you only brighter!!

Some of My Most Commonly Asked Questions :

What is the best strength to use ?

Most bleaching products come in a variety of strengths think mild, medium or strong. This will depend on the extent of your staining. If your tooth shade falls within the yellow to the brown range, you might be better off starting with a medium strength. This will be strong enough to begin whitening your smile as well as gentle enough to allow you to continue bleaching until most if not all of your stains are gone.

If you started the the maximum strength you might find your teeth too sensitive to continue treatment. The lowest strength would also work and probably cut down on your overall sensitivity. However it could extend the time you will need to bleach . Meaning you would have to purchase more product and use it for a longer time to see the results you want.

If your tooth color falls more into the yellow but not quite brown range ( like most of us) then you could benefit from the low strength and if your results are not as you like , increase to the medium strength. Keep in mind that the maximum or strongest strength of bleaching should be reserved for those of you who have been bleaching for some length of time. It should be used when the lower strengths have already been tried and there are still some stubborn staining left on the teeth.

It is not advised to start with the strongest bleaching solution first, it is better to work your way up. This decreases tooth sensitivity and increases your ability to actually bleach your teeth for a longer period of time, comfortably.

Most if not all people will experience "tooth sensitivity" some time during their whitening process. This is a natural occurrence that should go away after your treament is complete. I have found that different brands promote different levels of sensitivity ranging from very low to "ouch!!". As the bleaching process begins the "pores" inside your teeth slowly open up to allow the solution to enter and bleach them from the inside. As these microscopic pores open you may be more sensitive to cold sensations . Some people actually feel a "mild" throbbing feeling overall from their teeth. This once again occurs during the bleaching process and will go away after you are done.

Do not let this sensation sabotage your efforts. Using a desensitizing toothpaste while you are bleaching and after can decrease this minor discomfort. Also, rinsing with a fluoride rinse after each bleaching session can help as well.

I have felt this sensitivity as well and have followed my own advice. If however you find the sensation so uncomfortable that you discontinue your treatment then I would advise that you change your strength to a lower one that is more tolerable- remember it is not a step back, it just increases the overall bleaching time . It is better to go slow and steady than suffer. We all have different tolerance levels.

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Please Comment below with your questions and experiences. Also, check back often I will be be discussing the following questions in the near future...

Is there a limit on how white my teeth can get?
How long does it take to see noticeable results?
What about my existing dental work (such as crown and bridges)?
My Teeth are extremely sensitive, Why?
I have cavities, can I still whiten my teeth?
How do I maintain my whitening results?
How long should I continue to bleach?
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What About My Existing Dental Work (such as crown and bridges)?

2009-05-25T10:53:00.005-04:00

Chances are that when you had your existing crowns and or bridge work done, your dentist matched the shade of the porcelain of these restorations to your natural tooth color at the time. This is also true if you had "white" or tooth color fillings done as well. As dental professionals, we strive to make whatever crown/bridge , restoration work match as closely as possible to your overall natural tooth color.

It is possible that at the time this work was done, you were not happy with your tooth color or it was years ago and you thought you would not want whiter teeth in the future. Now, you want to enhance your smile through the whitening process. Problem? Yes, unfortunately crowns, bridges or composite(white) fillings will not lighten with your treatment. Also, silver fillings cannot be bleached lighter as well.

What happens is all of your natural teeth will respond to the whitening process, but the restorations made of porcelain and or metal have already been shaded to their current color, made in the laboratory especially to match your tooth shade at the time of their placement in your mouth. These cannot and will not change their color.

Many patients will pursue replacement of existing crown, bridge and tooth color fillings, after they have achieved the desired results of whitening. Your natural teeth will appear much whiter than these older restorations. Don't despair, whiten your stained teeth and then change your older work. It is possible that these restorations have been in your mouth for some time. At which point, maybe they are showing some signs of wear.

Dental insurance companies will recognize this and at the prompting of your dentist, you may qualify for new restorations. If so, this is your chance to whiten your teeth prior to removing and replacing older crowns/bridges. Your new crowns/bridges/ white fillings will be matched to the color of your teeth "after" your whitening process. Be sure to speak to your dental professional about your desires, whiter teeth then replace crowns/bridges to match your new brilliant smile!

My Teeth are extremely sensitive, Why?

2009-05-10T20:05:00.007-04:00

If you are referring to your teeth being sensitive during or slightly after you have been actively bleaching your smile, then here is the most sensible reason. Most people think of their teeth as being solid enamel structure. Actually , under a high microscope you would see your teeth are actually porous. They can and will maintain , water, stains etc. Sort of like solid enamel sponges.

As you begin a whitening procedure, these "pores" in the teeth are being cleaned from the insides out. It is very natural to feel increased sensitivity to cold sensations as well as hot. Spontaneous little "zings" are not entirely uncommon either, I do know this personally. This is a sign that perhaps the whitening procedure should be slowed down-not entirely abandoned. Hot and cold, air temperature even will be a short-lived nuisance. These symptoms do and will go away at the end of your treatment. Get excited, this is a common sign that the procedure is working to clean out the stains "inside" your teeth not just outside.

If you are referring to sensitive teeth that you have before beginning a whitening treatment then it could be due to a couple of reasons. Some people just have naturally sensitive teeth due to the fact that over the years, enamel of the teeth has thinned, -no worries- this can be a normal factor of age. Also, some people just have "thicker" enamel on their teeth.

Think- thin hair or thick hair. My concern would be that you rule out the possibility that your teeth are not sensitive because you have outstanding dental work that needs to be addressed, such as cracked or loose fillings, abrasion of the teeth(the wearing down of chewing surfaces). Please have your smile regularly maintained and checked by professionals. One tip I could give you to help with tooth sensitivity either before you've decided to bleach, or during the procedure. It may help to rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse, these types of rinses can actually cut down on sensitivity by giving your teeth a healthy boost of fluoride, tooth paste that is specifically sold to help with sensitivity is also available. These items can be found anywhere dental supplies are sold, but it is helpful to ask your dentist/hygienist what she recommends.

I have cavities, can I still whiten my teeth?

2009-04-30T18:48:00.006-04:00

Starting your whitening treatment while areas in your mouth have cavities or worse is never a good idea. Current decay in your teeth ( cavities) are just that, cavities. Holes or unfilled surfaces on or inside your teeth may lead to infection and or tooth removal. Why would you spend your hard earned money on teeth whitening if it is possible that the results were not long-lasting?

For example : decay that is beyond repair means extraction of teeth /tooth. The best recommendation is to fix or repair these cavities as required per your Dentist. Next, proceed with your well-deserved whitening procedure. Please keep in mind this as well.

The whitening treatment is using active "bleaching" ingredients. If you have exposed dental cavities in your mouth, the bleach will inevitably reach these areas as well. Can you say "OUCH"?? Not recommended nor advisable. Even if you could withstand the extreme sensitivity , what happens next?

Your cavity is extremely white and sensitive-left untreated- you lose the tooth. Costing you more money in the long run to replace the tooth. If cavities are diagnosed after you have been whitening your teeth for some time, that is different. Whitening, is stopped. The tooth or teeth are treated appropriately, then resume whitening. It is truly in your best interest that your oral health is taken care of "before" cosmetic results are sought.

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What type of ingredients work the best?

2009-04-24T21:57:00.013-04:00

As an assistant myself, I have had opportunity to try many of the latest patented bleaching products sold by dental offices.

I have been an avid bleacher for over 5 years. I have tried many, some I liked; others not so pleasant. I would give my feedback to my employers and this has led to what we used and sold and what we just did not order anymore. I was educated in the fact that along with other non-active ingredients most bleach products contained one or the other of two major active ingredients.

Carbamide peroxide bleaching agents and Hydrogen peroxide . My initial whitening trials were with Hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient. These products I found were irritating to the gum tissue actually causing the gum or gingiva to turn a white color temporarily until bleaching process was done.

I have to say I did see my teeth whiten, however I could not get past the initial gum irritation- it was moderately painful. Ultimately I tried another product for whitening containing Carbamide peroxide. I found very little if any gum tissue irritation. Tooth sensitivity was decreased as well.

The whitening results were more noticeable at a shorter treatment period as well. To compare the two would be difficult. Some patients did just fine and were pleased with the Hydrogen peroxide solution, they were content with their own results. I , personally found the Carbamide peroxide much more effective on my own teeth . I continue to use it to this day. To summarize, make sure you know what is the active ingredient in your whitening bleach, if Hydrogen peroxide is your first choice and you receive great results, continue. If not you have the option of using Carbamide peroxide.

Some people's teeth will respond differently to the different solutions-both can achieve optimal results. Just trial and error. You may have your own preference as your own teeth are very different and unique to you. However, read your ingredients and if one type of bleaching solution does not bring you the results you want then try another kind. Keep in mind , I recommend to stay with the two key active ingredients which I feel are most used and trusted. Hydrogen peroxide or Carbamide peroxide based bleach.

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Is there a limit on how white my teeth can get?

2009-04-20T20:30:00.011-04:00

Everyone has a certain limit as to how light, bright or white their teeth will become after using a bleaching system. I have seen over the years that some people will achieve "paper white" results. Not all of us might achieve the same. Personally my own teeth tend to have a natural yellow tint to them, some of us have more of a reddish or brown and equally some people have a grayish hue.

These "tints or hues" as I will call them are found on what dentists' call your basic shade guide. Consider this the same idea as people having different natural tint color in their hair. These differences in your natural tooth shade will ultimately guide your results.

One basic rule of knowing how white is too white is by comparing the sclera (white part of your eye) with your shade of teeth. It will and does look a bit odd when your teeth are whiter than your eyes. Think about it. However, to each their own. Eventually, the pores inside your tooth structure will sufficiently bleach away the internal stains, when they are gone this is your color.

Prolonged bleaching of the teeth promotes a condition in which the teeth appear whiter because they are dehydrated. This temporarily will give a "look of whiter teeth" almost translucent. As they become hydrated again tooth color will resume a more pearly white as opposed to "paper white". Some people prefer this, I personally believe the maintenance involved is not needed. Glow in the dark teeth are not natural and hard to maintain, not to mention the constant sensitivity. So, bleach until you are satisfied, touch up every 3to 6 months or one week before an important occasion.

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